North Macedonia’s retail sales increased by 2.1% year-on-year in April 2026, a sharp slowdown from the robust 8.1% expansion recorded in March. The deceleration was largely driven by a 19.4% slump in fuel sales (compared with a marginal 0.1% decline in March), following a spike in energy prices linked to the war in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Growth also eased in other categories, with sales of food, beverages, and tobacco rising 11.3% (down from 12.7%), and non-food products advancing 5.2% (down from 8.2%).